Brief History History of Mas Oyama:

An early start-
Masutatsu (Mas) Oyama was born Yong I-Choi on the 27th of July in1923, in a village in
Southern Korea. At first he lives on his sister's farm. At the age of nine, he started studying the
Southern Chinese form of Kempo called Eighteen hands from a Mr. Yi who was at the time
working on the farm. When Oyama returned to Korea at the age of 12, he continued his training
in Korean Kempo In 1938 at the age of 15.

1923: Masutatsu Oyama was born on July 27th. (June 4th by reckoning of the old Japanese
calendar)
1931: Mas Oyama entered junior high school in Seoul, Korea, where he started his study of
Chinese Martial art.
1938: becomes student under Master Gichin Funakoshi
1946: Entered the Department of Physical Education to study sports science in Waseda
University. Same year Mas Oyama enters the mountain for training.
1947: Mas Oyama entered and won the first post- WWII All Japan Tournament held at Maruyama
Gymnasium, Kyoto.
1948: Mas Oyama decided to devote his life to Karate and did 18 months training alone in Mt.
Kiyosumi of Chiba Prefecture to perfect his techniques and form his Karate way.
1950: Fight against a bull in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture. After that he acquired a room in an
abattoir (animal processing plant) and trained by killing bulls. Altogether he killed 47 bulls, 4 of them
dying instantly.
1951: Started teaching Karate to the US Army personnel stationed at Camps Zama, Fuchu,
Tachikawa, Yokosuka, Tokorozawa, Yokota, and Yokohama, Japan. Began training in Judo at the Dojo
in Asagaya, Tokyo.
1952: A Karate Organization in Chicago invited Mas Oyama to the USA, and over an eleven-
month period he did 32 demonstrations, taught in various states, and participated in 7 fights
1953: Mas Oyama was invited by a Karate organization to Chicago, U.S.A where over an eleven-
month period he conducted 32 demonstrations, as well as teaching in various states and participating
in 7 fights.
1954: After returning from the United States, and at the request of the press; Mas Oyama filmed a
documentary called “Karate: Fighting Fierce Bull”. The death match with the 450kg bull lasted some 30
minutes Mas Oyama opened his first dojo in Mejiro, Tokyo located at an outside grassy area that had
been badly damaged by fires in the war.
1955: Mas Oyama visited the U.S.A for the third time as well as traveling around South America
and Europe. During his travels, he fought many people from different styles and snapped the neck of a
whiskey bottle with a knife hand strike. It was from this time that he came to be referred to as God
Hand.
1956: The Oyama Dojo was started in a small ballet studio behind Rikkyo University. The dojo
started with 300 students and was the beginning of 'Kyokushinkai'
1957: Mas Oyama travelled to Europe. Fought a bull in Mexico city. The number of students in the
Oyama Dojo had risen to over 700 by this time.
1958: Mas Oyama's book "What is Karate" was published for overseas karate fans and become the
first best-selling book on Japanese Karate with 500,000 copies printed, Mas Oyama visited New York at
this time. The F.B.I. In Washington invited Mas Oyama to teach and demonstrate karate, The
WestPoint Army School invited Mas Oyama to teach and demonstrate karate.
1959: The First Hawaiian Tournament was held and Mas Oyama attended as the Supreme Judge.
He also gave a demonstration at the tournament.
1962: He received his Japanese citizenship.
1963: Mas Oyama travels to America, Europe, and South Africa. The Oyama Dojo was relocated to
Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo Japan and construction started on the building to become the
Kyokushinkaikan Honbu (Head Quarter).
1964: Eisaku Sato, former Prime Minister of Japan, who had recently won a Nobel Prize, became
Kaicho(President) of the Kyokushukaikan. Mas. Oyama became Kancho(Director). Tokyo Honbu was
officially opened, and the International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan was established.
1965: This is Karate" was published, and became known as the Bible of Karate. The Middle East
I.K.O was started. Kancho gave private lessons to then His Majesty, the King.
1969: The 1st All Japan Open Karate Tournament was held in Tokyo, the winner was Terutomu
Yamazaki. Since then, the tournament has been held every year.
1971: Karate Baka-Ichidai", a famous cartoon about Karate, appeared as a series in "Shonen
Magazine" which is a popular Japanese cartoon magazine.
1972: Sosai trains King Juan Carlos of Spain.
1974: Mas Oyama gives a Karate demonstration at the Okura Hotel for the Shah of Iran.
1975: The 1st World Open Tournament was held in Tokyo and continued to be held once every
four years.
1976: The Strongest Karate", a documentary film about the first world tournament, was released
and gained great popularity. The film was shown in more than 30 countries and was viewed by
7,000,000 - 8,000,000 people "The Strongest Karate Part 2" were released.
1979: A grand demonstration was held at the embassy of the Soviet Union in Tokyo. As a result,
Kyokushin was recognized by The USSR Academy of Science. The 2nd World Open Karate
Championships took place in the Nippon Budokan. 146 fighters from 60 countries participated. The
tournament was akin to the Olympics of Karate. Kancho was given Order of Merit by the royal family
of Jordan.
1980: The lst "Strongest Karate", the movie about the 2nd World Tournament was released.
1981: H.R.R Prince Faizal of Saudi Arabia came to Honbu to meet Kancho for a private discussion.
After seeing the demonstration by the Honbu Black Belts, the Prince asked instructors to be dispatched
to Saudi Arabia.
1983: The demonstration was took place at the French Navy's Aircraft Career Jean d’Arcy. After
that, this demonstration was held every year. The First Hungarian Championship was held. It was the
first Kyokushin tournament in the Communist Block. The Crown Prince of Nepal visits Japan and
meets Mas Oyama.Demonstrations were held for the Crown Prince.
1984: The 3rd World Open Tournament was held at Nippon Budokan
1985: Oyama Kancho was given a Cultural Award by the Brazilian Government. In Barcelona
Spain, Kancho met with the IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch.
1987: The 4th World Open Tournament was held at Nippon Budokan.
207 fighters from 76 countries participated.
1988: The Kyokushin organization is established in all of Japan's prefectures.
1989: In an effort to enhance the standard of Karate in Japan and improve skills reciprocally,
Kancho requests that fighters from other styles participate in the Japan Tournament held by
Kyokushin Kaikan.
1990: Delegation sent to a martial arts festival in the Soviet Union-Ukrainian Republic.
1991: The 5th World Open Tournament was held at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. 250 fighters
from 105 countries participated. Oyama Kancho demonstrated "Entensho-no-Kata", and he said that
this was his last demonstration.
1994: At the age of 71, Mas Oyama passes away at St. Luke's Hospital, Tokyo due to lung cancer.

1931 1946 1948

1952 1954

1955 1956 1958

1958 1964 1964

1969 1971 1975

1976 1976 1979

1980 1983 1984